Thistle’s title hopes dented

LOCHAR’S defence of the South of Scotland League took a hammer blow on Saturday after a 5-2 defeat away to Stranraer Reserves. It was clear from the opening stages that the hosts were going to play direct, while Lochar struggled to get a clear foothold in the game. The opener came on 16 minutes when Kyle Braid’s clearance rebounded off a Stranraer player. A pass across goal then gave striker Leon Paton an easy side foot finish to give the home side the lead. A major talking point in the game came on 25 minutes when Jack Caskie was recklessly challenged high on the chest. The referee only booked the Stranraer player, much to the bemusement of all in The Stuart Binnie Arena. Stranraer took full advantage of the fortune by adding two more goals before the break. Harry Mitchell headed home from six yards out, before Martin McClorey added a third following a Lochar mistake. Cammy Shaw and John Heyes were introduced at the break as Lochar changed their shape to try and get back into the game. They did give themselves some hope when Robbie Ferguson laid off for Shaw to curl an excellent effort home on 62 minutes. But this hope was shortlived as another error in the back line saw the normally reliable Hugh Cameron a little short with a back pass to Lee Graham. The keeper thought he had more time than he did, and his clearance rebounded off Paton into the Lochar net. Stranraer made it five on 80 minutes when a corner into the Lochar six yard box was missed by Graham and Rab Smith headed home at the back post. Lewis Todd scored a further consolation goal for Thistle when he headed home in injury time. Lochar have two games this week. They travelled to Newton Stewart tonight in the Haig Gordon Cup, before welcoming Mids to Wilson Park in the league on Saturday.